Mosquitoes with virus found in Albuquerque area

Albuquerque-area health officials say they've collected mosquitoes positive for the West Nile virus in Bernalillo County for the first time in 2014.

City and county health agencies operate a mosquito control program aimed at reducing mosquito populations that transmit the virus.

West Nile's typical symptoms include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches, but in rare cases it can cause meningitis or encephalitis. People older than 60 are at most risk for serious disease from West Nile virus.

Dr. Mark DiMenna of the city Environmental Health Department says mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus will be around until there is a hard frost in the area.

In the meantime, humans are urged to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites while horse owners are strongly encouraged to vaccinate horses.

MOSQUITOES... BUT YOU'RE ABOUT TO NOTICE THAT IS CHANGING, AND CHANGING FAST. KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS ANCHOR TODD KURTZ SHOWS US HOW EXPERTS KNOW "THEY'RE COMING"; AND WHAT HAS THEM SO CONCERNED THIS YEAR. IT WAS SUCH A PLEASANT AND NEEDED SIGHT -- MORE THAN AN INCH OF RAIN LAST WEEK IN ALBUQUERQUE. BUT WITH IT -- COMES THIS -- SEE THOSE LITTLE THINGS SQUIRMING AROUND IN THERE -- THOSE ARE MOSQUITOES. DR. PAUL SMITH -- ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH -- with the warm temperatures, the high humidity we're looking at about a 7 day generation from going from egg to adult stage. YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT -- 7 DAYS AND THESE THINGS WILL BE FULL GROWN AND ON THE HUNT FOR YOU. THE CITY HAS MORE THAN 1-THOUSAND TROUBLE SPOTS LIKE THIS -- AND WITH ONLY 2 EMPLOYEES TO COMBAT IT -- THE WORKERS WON'T BE ABLE TO KEEP UP.. DR. PAUL SMITH -- ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH -- we really look to try to treat the larvae stage, we want to knock the larvae down before they become adults. TODD KURTZ -- now if you have a trouble spot near where you live, some ponding may be happening, it doesn't have to be this big, you can call 311 and the guys will come and check it out for you BEFORE THIS WEEK, WORKERS WERE SEEING JUST A HANDFUL OF ADULT MOSQUITOES IN TRAPS -- BUT WORKERS WILL LIKELY START FINDING 300 TO 400 BY THE END OF THIS WEEK. IT'S NERVEWRACKING BECAUSE NEW MEXICO IS COMING OFF A ROUGH YEAR FOR WEST NILE. THERE WERE 38 CASES LAST YEAR INCLUDING 3 DEATHS. DR. PAUL SMITH -- ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH -- we know it's here we know it's going to show up every year, so it's something we're always concerned with and something we're always working to prevent. SO FAR NO MOSQUITOES HERE HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR WEST NILE -- BUT IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. YOU CAN PLAN ON A FEW EXTRA GUESTS FOR THOSE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES THIS WEEKEND. TK KA7N TO PROTECT YOURSELF -- ALWAYS USE BUG-SPRAY WITH DEET. AND AVOID BEING OUTSIDE AT DUSK AND DAWN -- THAT'S WHEN MOSQUITOES ARE MOST ACTIVE. ANOTHER CASE OF